Salisbury Plans to Give Away Free Rain Barrels

SALISBURY, Md.- If you live in Salisbury and want to take part in saving the environment, the city will soon give away a limited number of rain barrels for free.

Councilwoman Laura Mitchell said that the city's ultimate goal is to help reduce dangerous chemicals from entering into our waterways.

Just this week the city received a grant of about $5,000 from an environmental group that is meant to help pay for the barrels.

"It's really easy to do anything to save the environment is worth the effort," said Tony Foderaro.

He said he and his wife have had a rain barrel in their home for a while.

"We have a 55-gallon drum that we collect rainwater from, and a rain spout and we use this to water our plants and anything that needs watering in the yard," he said.

Mitchell said that by giving away the barrels which normally run at $100 a piece they will help meet the requirement of reducing phosphorous and nitrogen levels into the Chesapeake Bay.

She said it's a requirement mandated by the state government.

And just like Foderero Nick Melczarek put plastic barrels in all four corners of his house.

"Within 20 minutes we can have about 220 gallons of free water to play with," he said.

Melczarek said that if he hadn't already bought the barrels then he probably would take advantage of the free ones the city will give away.

"When you put that up against how many hundreds of dollars you can spend in just a month just to keep your plants alive, it's enormous savings."

Ernie Bailey said that while he realizes the city is trying to make an effort in helping the local environment he can't understand why the grant money isn't being used for other environmental purposes.

"That is the Wicomico River, most of the time there is a tremendous amount of trash flowing in the water," Bailey said. "My understanding is that it's part of the bay clean up so I don't understand why that's not being taken cared of."

Mitchell said that the grant money is not tax payer money. She said that another incentive to this is receiving a credit on your utility bill once there is a storm water fee implemented.

The city is planning to hold public meetings in October where interested people can get information on how to get a free rain barrel.

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency and Delaware Division of Public Health will distribute potassium iodide (KI) tablets to Delaware residents living within a 10-mile radius of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations.More

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency and Delaware Division of Public Health will distribute potassium iodide (KI) tablets to Delaware residents living within a 10-mile radius of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations.More

Maryland State Police are investigating an apparent homicide that occurred this afternoon in Princess Anne. The victim is a male believed to be in his thirties, although troopers are still working to identify him. Anyone with more information is being asked to call Maryland State Police.

Maryland State Police are investigating an apparent homicide that occurred this afternoon in Princess Anne. The victim is a male believed to be in his thirties, although troopers are still working to identify him. Anyone with more information is being asked to call Maryland State Police.